Ayelet Levy Shachar, whose daughter, Hamas gunmen kidnaped Naama Levy from an Israeli army observation post on October 7. Turned down an invitation to Washington. She felt honored by the invitation but believed the timing was not right. Ayelet described Naama as a determined and fun-loving young woman. And expressed hope that her nine-month ordeal might be nearing an end. She emphasized the urgency of reaching a deal. Stating, “Nothing should be distracting [us] at this point… this is what we should be dealing with right now.”
Controversial Trip to Washington Families
Some relatives of hostages, along with Noa Argamani. A Woman rescued by Israeli forces in June, traveled to Washington with Prime Minister Netanyahu. This decision sparked controversy, as families of the hostages had been protesting to prioritize their release over diplomatic engagements. In Washington, Netanyahu assured the families that an agreement might be close but insisted that military pressure on Hamas must continue, stating, “We see that the enemy’s spirit is starting to break.”
Background and Current Situation Families
The conflict began in October when Hamas attacked southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israel’s subsequent campaign in Gaza has led to over 39,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Netanyahu has resisted a ceasefire deal that would exchange 116 hostages for Palestinian prisoners as Israel’s security establishment signals that an agreement is possible. Negotiations have stalled over Israeli demands for military supervision of specific corridors in Gaza.
Recent Developments and Challenges
This week, Israel confirmed that two hostages had died in captivity, highlighting the cost of delaying a deal. Naama Levy, who was kidnapped two days after completing her basic training, sent a final message from a safe room before being captured. Her family has released photos of the female soldiers kidnapped from the observation post to remind the world of their plight. Naama does not appear in the picture with them. Reports indicate frequent relocations to avoid Israeli military action. Her family has received “proof of life” without further details, and she is reportedly held in Hamas tunnels.
Ongoing Negotiations and Family’s Desperation
Netanyahu is sending Israeli negotiators to Doha to continue talks, maintaining Ayelet’s hope amid desperation. She feels the urgency, saying, “Both sides are coming closer with their demands… It has to happen. It has to happen.” Ayelet draws strength from her belief in Naama’s resilience, stating, “I think she’s solid… she can survive this.”
